Cypress College

Spotlight - Full Details

Chelsea Oldfield

Outstanding Graduate, 2009Alumni

Chelsea Oldfield, a 4.0 student and a member of both the women's basketball and volleyball teams, was selected as Cypress College's Outstanding Graduate for 2009. Oldfield, a resident of Bellflower, is a Liberal Arts major who will continue her education in the fall at Azusa Pacific University, where she will study nursing.

A history of success, is not new to Oldfield: she is a graduate of Calvary Chapel Downey High School, where she also earned a 4.0 GPA and was salutatorian for the graduating class of 2007.

"Our new motto this year for the Lady Chargers women's basketball team is 'Our Best, Nothing Less,'" Oldfield wrote in an essay that was submitted as part of the nomination process for Graduate of the Year. "It has always been my aspiration to give my all in whatever I do whether it is on the court, in the classroom, or at home."

At Calvary Chapel, Oldfield said she was encouraged to apply to universities such as USC and those in the Cal State and University of California systems.

"I knew those places weren't for me; not yet at least," she said. "I didn't feel that I was ready to make that big of a transition. That is, until I came to Cypress College. I chose to come to Cypress because I knew that it would help me make a smooth transition between high school and a four-year university."

Oldfield said she developed the desire to become a nurse while in junior high, when she helped provide care after her grandmother had a stroke, suffered renal failure and had Parkinson's disease, then was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

At Azusa Pacific, Oldfield plans to participate in the Army ROTC Program with the desire to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corps upon graduation.

Mohr, who helped bring Oldfield to Cypress College, had praise for her guard.

"As an athlete, Chelsea is a coach's dream" Mohr wrote in a letter of recommendation. "She is hardworking, committed, and possesses infectious enthusiasm. She lifted the competitive fire of her teammates everyday and set the standard in drills, conditioning and game situations.

"Although it is easy to see that Chelsea is accomplished and there are many things to admire about her, what I admire most is the type of person she is," Mohr wrote. "She is a person of values and convictions."

Her biology instructor, Luke Latham, also offered accolades: "I have many students every semester who are smart, yes, who work hard in class to meet the course objectives, yes, but rarely do I have students working with Chelsea's trifecta of strong academic skills, stellar athletic skills, and with such good humor. She brightens a course, helps other students to achieve academic success, and challenges me to create a better learning environment for all students."

Oldfield simply appreciated what she gained here.

"Cypress College opened the doors for me to meet some of the greatest professors, administrators and coaches that I would have never had the privilege to meet elsewhere," Oldfield said. "There is no other place I could have received such a high-quality education and participate in two sports."